Who has or is planning to get an electric car / EV Talk

[4sallypat]

My wife wants a Model Y - that's going to be "her" car when finances allow (probably won't be a for at least a year or two, heh). If you get one, definitely let us know how it goes .

Have you see the huge discounts Tesla just announced this month ??

Plus some of the lower trims get the $7500 tax credit ON TOP of the discounts.

Very tempting indeed!

If it wasn't for my Ford Mustang Mach E coming in this month with a $6500 manufacturer's discount, $7500 tax credit (until March 2023), $2000 finance incentive, low APR price protection, $2000 CA CVRP rebate, and $1000 Ford credit points....

 

[icanhazmac]

At home, I charge on L2 using an app that keeps track of the total kWH multiplied by the rate ($0.21 kWh).

Is that a Tesla app or third party?

On the road I have all my public L3 DCFC apps that all pay from one business credit card.

That makes sense. How many apps, or charging services, do you use?

 

[BigMcGuire]

Have you see the huge discounts Tesla just announced this month ??

Plus some of the lower trims get the $7500 tax credit ON TOP of the discounts.

Very tempting indeed!

If it wasn't for my Ford Mustang Mach E coming in this month with a $6500 manufacturer's discount, $7500 tax credit (until March 2023), $2000 finance incentive, low APR price protection, $2000 CA CVRP rebate, and $1000 Ford credit points....

I've always wanted a Ford Pickup. I grew up driving Ford F150s on my grandpa's farm in the midwest. Grew up wanting a F250 SD. Who knew I'd become a Californian and be driving an EV. <cough>.

Saw those drops. Sadly, we can't take advantage of anything anytime soon - my wife is finishing up PhD school at UCLA (just a few more months!).

 

[diamond.g]

How close is it getting to being the same cost/mile as gas?

Feels like pretty close, but not having bought gas in a long while I am not sure, lol. I just looked at my travel request and it was 65 dollars round trip plus charging twice in Orlando.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Here's a question... is anyone driving a personal EV for work and submitting charging costs as expenses for reimbursement? If so would you share a pic of the receipt? Also, does anyone submit electric bills from your home the same way? How are you tracking the power used vs the rest of your home?



How close is it getting to being the same cost/mile as gas?

I charge at work so I don’t bother submitting expenses. But we get 15p per mile for an EV. 44p for my old Golf. But the rate varies depending on your engine size.

 

[AlaskaMoose]

It is solved by each state only taxing the fuel sold within their state. They don't get to tax gas sold in neighboring states. They only have authority for use of their roads.

The points are the tax revenue loss at gas sales (you still are taxed based off of registration). But those who drive more, are taxed more, and those who drive less are taxed less (based on gas sales).

So, how would you increase the tax of those who drive more, vs those who drive less, without charging those who are out of state (like it happens now, by not buying gas within your state when you are away)? For example, a student who is away for 4 years of college, driving only in a different state.

There are 3 issues:
1) the visiting state does not get their tax revenue (at all, since here is no registration)
2) they do not have a way to tax these out of staters based on road usage
3) they don't get to tax their own residents from road usage

With EV's, state departments of transportations do not have authority to tax electricity usage. So, without GPS, the question is, how else would they be able to tax based on a sliding scale based on road usage?

What makes things even more complicated is that while the Federal government's fuel taxes are equal across all states, the revenue collected at the state level varies from state to state. On top of the fuel taxes collected by the state, some states also have plenty of toll roads. NY is one of those states that has tolls even between the airports and the boroughs, but at least this money is not a fuel tax. Some states also have "sales tax" (not called fuel tax, I guess). Then there is an aviation fuel tax all states and Federal Governments collect

Diesel Fuel Taxes By State Resource Page | PFleet

Discover an in-depth breakdown of diesel fuel taxes by state and understand the tax implications of diesel fuel usage in different regions.

www.pfleet.com

Aviation fuel sales | Washington Department of Revenue

dor.wa.gov

 

[4sallypat]

Is that a Tesla app or third party?



That makes sense. How many apps, or charging services, do you use?

My charger at home is an Emporia and it has excellent tracking of charge per day, week, month and year. I charge at the low price times ($0.21 per kWh).

On the road, when I use the 3 major DCFC (L3) chargers (Electrify America, EVGo, and Chargepoint), each app is directed to use one business credit card so at the end of the year, it's easy to add up.

 

[4sallypat]

I've always wanted a Ford Pickup. I grew up driving Ford F150s on my grandpa's farm in the midwest. Grew up wanting a F250 SD. Who knew I'd become a Californian and be driving an EV. <cough>.

Saw those drops. Sadly, we can't take advantage of anything anytime soon - my wife is finishing up PhD school at UCLA (just a few more months!).

That's funny - you want a Ford truck!

I am currently selling my Ford Lightning EV truck just 6 months old.

My auto broker is handling the sale..

 

[BigMcGuire]

That's funny - you want a Ford truck!

I am currently selling my Ford Lightning EV truck just 6 months old.

My auto broker is handling the sale..
View attachment 2143959

It's these times I wish I had $. lol. Very nice. Good luck on your sale!

 

[Hieveryone]

I am definitely interested but am concerned about the fires. Is it a real problem or just hysteria? If it isn't an issue then I will buy electric for my next car

 

[Tagbert]

That is relatively cheap for EV registrations at the moment. Another poster said somewhere above that he pays over $1,000 (if I well remember), for registering hist F-150 ICE truck in CA.

I wonder if that is an EV surcharge or just the total registration fee. In Seattle I pay about $500 total on a Volt, but most of that is not because it is an EV, it is to pay for a large expansion of the light rail network.

 

[Tagbert]

GPS was your recommendation. I would never recommend something so intrusive. ( There is much better tech available. ) A couple of senators, lobbyists and a few billion dollars could do even better. ( no sarcasm in the last statement, the frustration is that they still have NOT done it ).


Is that currently calculated when fueling in one state and then driving through another?

My comment was that the US is too short sided in seemingly everything; EV fuel tax is only an example. Chip shortages when the US has over 30 fabrication facilities, and more recently egg and milk shortages.

Selfies, snide comments and politicizing everything ( mostly from the elected, or not elected ) supersedes the needs of the nation and its people.

No, I don’t want GPS either. I was originally commenting on some who who thought that state regulators were “idiots” because they were charging static fees and weren’t just using using GPS to track everyone.

It can be hard to track who said what on some of these commingled subthreads. 😊

 

[cyb3rdud3]

I am definitely interested but am concerned about the fires. Is it a real problem or just hysteria? If it isn't an issue then I will buy electric for my next car

It's not even hysteria, many more ICE cars catch fire every day

 

[Apple fanboy]

I am definitely interested but am concerned about the fires. Is it a real problem or just hysteria? If it isn't an issue then I will buy electric for my next car

Don’t believe the propaganda. Probably a 1000% more likely to happen in an ICE vehicle.

 

[960design]

I am definitely interested but am concerned about the fires. Is it a real problem or just hysteria? If it isn't an issue then I will buy electric for my next car

I do not believe there is any hysteria over EV fires.
It is certainly something to consider and weigh in on.

Here is the truth ( well, as truthy as insurance companies report ):
For 2022
1529 fires per 100k for gas vehicles
25 fires per 100k sales for electric vehicles

Hybrid vehicles were seemingly the highest risk factor ( kinda makes sense, bigger battery + fuel ):
3474 fires per 100k hybrid sales

Gas vs. Electric Car Fires in 2024 (Shocking Stats)| AutoinsuranceEZ.com

Gas vs. electric car fires comparison show insurance rates of $120/month for gas cars and $100/month for electric cars. Compare car fire stats to find the best choice.

www.autoinsuranceez.com

 

[Apple fanboy]

I do not believe there is any hysteria over EV fires.
It is certainly something to consider and weigh in on.

Here is the truth ( well, as truthy as insurance companies report ):
For 2022
1529 fires per 100k for gas vehicles
25 fires per 100k sales for electric vehicles

Hybrid vehicles were seemingly the highest risk factor ( kinda makes sense, bigger battery + fuel ):
3474 fires per 100k hybrid sales

So from the site you linked to.

So anyone considering not buying an EV due to the risk of fire would never consider a hybrid or ICE vehicle. Can’t say I’m surprised. Just last week my journey was delayed by an hour due to an ICE car fire.
But the publicity (often funded by traditional car or gas companies I’m sure) around every EV fire is massively disproportionate. That’s why I think there is propaganda and hysteria around EV’s.

 

[AlaskaMoose]

I wonder if that is an EV surcharge or just the total registration fee. I Seattle I pay about $500 total on a Volt, but most of that is not because it is an EV, it is to pay for a large expansion of the light rail network.

It's difficult to tell unless one pays attention to what the city's assembly members vote on every time. The bottomline is that the city leaders will find ways to recuperate money losses. A loss of revenue also means loss of jobs, which of course won't happen to the politicians in charge, but the average employee at the bottom. Management is the last to lose jobs and benefits. So if the fuel tax of gasoline and diesel fuel disappears, they just create new taxes in order to maintaining the status quo (work benefits such as paychecks, leave, health insurance, pensions).

 

[AlaskaMoose]

I do not believe there is any hysteria over EV fires.
It is certainly something to consider and weigh in on.

Here is the truth ( well, as truthy as insurance companies report ):
For 2022
1529 fires per 100k for gas vehicles
25 fires per 100k sales for electric vehicles

Hybrid vehicles were seemingly the highest risk factor ( kinda makes sense, bigger battery + fuel ):
3474 fires per 100k hybrid sales

The reasons for hybrid vehicles to be involved in more fires the purely EV or ICE is because of having battery-caused fires, electrical fires (outside the battery) in addition to fuel-related fires, human-caused fires, and so on. So you are correct that there are concerns about fires relating to EV's and ICE automobiles. That aside, the fuel in an automobile's tank is relatively safe, and only becomes dangerous when it reaches its flammability point. But in order for it to ignite-if spilled-it still has to have oxygen and a spark. Take any of these two elements out, and the fuel won't ignite. A properly designed and operating battery also is relatively safe. If you believe that fuel is the cause of all fires, then think about this: when you are traveling by air from place to place, are you aware that the aircraft wings and the fuselage contain great quantities of fuel?
-----------
There are numkerous reasons for any vehicle to catch fire, there are electrical fires, fuel fires, oil fires, traffic accidents, and so on. A cigarette "butt" that's still burning can start a home or automobile fire. A short circuit can also start a fire (electrical fire), and so on. They problem with an EV batteries is the great amount of energy stored in it, and that it can self ignite if it reaches high temperatures. For example a short circuit that expands to other cells can cause a fire and thermal runaway.

How Safe Is The Battery In Your Electric Vehicle

Electric vehicle batteries undergo tremendous stress throughout their lifespan and are therefore required to pass stringent safety verification tests before they are deemed safe for road use. There are tips to prolong battery health, such that charging under maximum capacity and avoid frequent...

www.eigen.energy

 

[JT2002TJ]

2019 Model 3 Long Range AWD with Acceleration Boost and Full Self-Driving purchased... Will take delivery in about a week.

 

[Apple fanboy]

The problem with an EV batteries is the great amount of energy stored in it, and that it can self ignite if it reaches high temperatures. For example a short circuit that expands to other cells can cause a fire and thermal runaway.

But as we have seen there really is very little evidence of this happening. It’s bad far more likely for you to be involved in a hybrid or ice vehicle fire.
I know you say you aren’t against EV’s but you really do come across as someone who is.

 

[BigMcGuire]

Took me awhile to get used to that thumb button to open the door on the Tesla (from inside). Outside you have to press in the lever to grab it and pull it out.

Initially I was like, what happens if the electricity goes out? Or I need to exit the car immediately? Despite all the training videos and things I watched, it wasn't till a month after ownership that I realized there's a door handle at the top of that column that you can pull that will unlatch the door but isn't recommended cuz it doesn't pull the window down slightly.

Anyone getting an EV - (Tesla especially) - definitely take some time to get to know it. lol

 

[Apple fanboy]

Took me awhile to get used to that thumb button to open the door on the Tesla (from inside). Outside you have to press in the lever to grab it and pull it out.

Initially I was like, what happens if the electricity goes out? Or I need to exit the car immediately? Despite all the training videos and things I watched, it wasn't till a month after ownership that I realized there's a door handle at the top of that column that you can pull that will unlatch the door but isn't recommended cuz it doesn't pull the window down slightly.

Anyone getting an EV - (Tesla especially) - definitely take some time to get to know it. lol

Absolutely. The thing is any modern car is a computer on wheels. Absolutely one needs to spend a bit of time familiarising themselves with it.

 

[JT2002TJ]

Took me awhile to get used to that thumb button to open the door on the Tesla (from inside). Outside you have to press in the lever to grab it and pull it out.

Initially I was like, what happens if the electricity goes out? Or I need to exit the car immediately? Despite all the training videos and things I watched, it wasn't till a month after ownership that I realized there's a door handle at the top of that column that you can pull that will unlatch the door but isn't recommended cuz it doesn't pull the window down slightly.

Anyone getting an EV - (Tesla especially) - definitely take some time to get to know it. lol

I haven't taken delivery yet, but just watched the videos in the app. It was in the video about how to open the door from the outside, inside using electronics, and inside using backup mechanical. My sister has a model 3, and I didn't know about it until the video, I'm sure she doesn't know about it (she's one of the smartest people I know, but wouldn't worry about what a button does, unless it's needed).

 

[JT2002TJ]

2019 Model 3 Long Range AWD with Acceleration Boost and Full Self-Driving purchased... Will take delivery in about a week.

I will add that I am keeping my 2015 Ram 1500 with the Hemi... Getting rid of my commuter car for this, my new commuter.

 

[AlaskaMoose]

But as we have seen there really is very little evidence of this happening. It’s bad far more likely for you to be involved in a hybrid or ice vehicle fire.
I know you say you aren’t against EV’s but you really do come across as someone who is.

I am not against EV's nor ICE. I am pro technological advancements in all modes of propulsion, thus the reason why I am so interested in the F1 hybrid technology and FE as well. There are dangers involved in the handling of fuel (s), and there are dangers involved in the handling of electricity. The link I posted above tells the dangers associated with EV batteries, and the reason why batteries are made so secure or safe.